United fires 35 employees accused of abusing family travel perks

An United Airlines plane takes off at Chicago O'Hare International Airport in January. The airline has fired 35 workers for allegedly abusing the employee travel benefits program. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune)

When airlines say employee travel benefits that allow nearly free flights are for friends and family, they mean it.

United Airlines has fired 35 employees who were allegedly involved in a “brokering scheme” involving the sale of travel privileges that employees get as a perk of working for the carrier, according to a notice the airline sent employees on Wednesday.

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Chicago-based United didn’t say how often it catches employees flouting rules governing standby travel benefits intended for immediate family members, or friends flying on more limited “buddy passes.” But such programs are a common perk in the airline industry and abuse isn’t unique to United.

A recent Chicago-area Craigslist ad from a person claiming to be a Delta Air Lines employee offered a year’s worth of travel for $2,000, or one-time buddy pass trips at $300 for domestic flights and $500 for international.

United’s recent investigation into abuse of the program started with a group of nine flyers who were traveling overseas on passes but couldn’t name the employees who provided their tickets, the airline said in its Wednesday warning to employees. United said the passengers reported paying $3,500 to $4,000 per person for a year’s worth of travel.

Some of the employees involved falsely registered buyers as their stepparents or domestic partners, United said. Some received payment for their passes while others gave them away, thinking they were going to a co-worker’s friend or relative.

“Enjoying flying privileges is a unique and special advantage of working at an airline, and it is intended only for our employees and their friends and family. We have clear rules on flying privileges so we can all fairly enjoy this benefit,” the airline said in a statement Thursday.